The NFL’s Latest Marketing Play: Taylor Swift

October 12, 2023/by admin

The NFL's Latest Marketing Play: Taylor Swift Taylor Swift is one of the biggest stars in music with an incredibly engaged fan base. Over the years the singer has generated as much interest in her personal life as she has in her music, and her most recent relationship is no exception. News recently broke that Swift is dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Swift has been photographed attending some of Kelce’s games in his suite with family and friends, and the NFL immediately jumped on the opportunity to use her appearances as marketing moments. How the NFL Used Taylor Swift in Its Marketing The NFL frequently updates its social media profiles to highlight key games happening that week. Recently on Instagram and X, the NFL highlighted Swift’s attendance at Chiefs games to generate interest and engagement. During her second game appearance, the cameras cut to her 17 times throughout the game. Featuring her so many times created excitement among her fan base who likely tuned in hoping to see her. Why is the NFL doing this? Taylor Swift’s fan base, also known as “Swifties” are some of the most engaged fans in pop culture. Swift’s Eras tour was one of the year's most popular attractions, generating $2.2B in North America. With her entering WAG territory, her fans are now interested in football. The recent Chiefs-Jets game she attended averaged 27 million viewers, making it the second-highest-watched game of the regular season. Viewership among teen girls...

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Was it Written by AI? How You Can Tell, According to HubSpotters

Artificial Intelligence

October 10, 2023/by admin

Was it Written by AI? How You Can Tell, According to HubSpotters In school, I learned the basics of good writing — keep it short, concise, and grammatically correct. By that definition, AI-written content should be good, right? Yet, when I play around with tools like ChatGPT, I notice a few red flags. Sure, it's grammatically correct, but it gives off serious "corporate speak" vibes. It follows a logical sequence, but it often goes on lengthy tangents. And while its responses may be accurate, it often lacks a unique perspective. This isn't to suggest AI-written content is inherently bad. But if you plan to leverage AI for content creation, it's important to know where it falls short, and how to fix it. 4 Signs It Was Written by AI 1. It isn't skimmable. As a writer, it's nice to imagine that people hang on to every word I write. The reality, however, is far different. Gone are the days of leisurely reading the newspaper at the breakfast table. In the digital age, people want information, and they want it quickly. But if you've ever tinkered with an AI-writing tool, you may notice it hasn't mastered the art of brevity. For example, when I ask ChatGPT to write an intro for an article on how to write better headlines, it generates the following: This intro isn't necessarily bad, but it's a tad wordy and far too long. Now compare it to a blog post from Neil Patel on the same...

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Social Media for Nonprofits: Top Tips From BGCGW’s Director of Donor Relations

Blogging

October 10, 2023/by admin

Social Media for Nonprofits: Top Tips From BGCGW’s Director of Donor Relations “Whether you have a full-time staff member responsible for social media or someone that posts occasionally, I highly recommend having some kind of social presence — whatever that looks like.” This advice comes from Terri Johnson, Director of Donor Relations & Special Events at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington (BGCGW). Johnson’s team wears many hats (as many nonprofit employees do), and that includes managing BGCGW’s social media strategy. I thought she’d be the perfect person to ask how nonprofit organizations can tap into the power of social. Let’s take a look at her top tips. Table of Contents Why Social Media Matters for Nonprofits Social Media Best Practices for Nonprofits Why Social Media Matters for Nonprofits Before we dive into the how, let’s talk about the why — why is it important for your nonprofit organization to be on social media? For starters, we can look at the data: 55% of people who engage with nonprofits on social media end up taking some sort of action. This includes donating money, volunteering, or participating in community events. I can actually speak to this personally. I’m a big animal lover. I recently came across a post from The Humane Society on Instagram, and started scrolling through their feed. Image Source Wow, they really do such great work for all types of animals, I thought to myself. So great in...

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49 Essential Small Business Stats You Need to Know

Entrepreneurship

October 7, 2023/by admin

49 Essential Small Business Stats You Need to Know Small businesses are the lifeblood of any economy. Mom-and-pop restaurants, corner stores, family-owned shops, boutique tech firms, and other ventures drive economic growth, foster innovation, and generate employment opportunities. These businesses are the beating heart of the community. They provide essential services and goods, adding a unique flavor to local markets. 2023 continues to illustrate the importance of small businesses as they navigate through challenges and seize new opportunities. In this article, we delve into the nitty-gritty of small business statistics for 2023 and provide insights into their triumphs, tribulations, and trends. General Small Business Statistics Small Business Owner Statistics Industry-Wise Small Business Statistics Financial Small Business Statistics Jobs in Small Businesses Statistics Small Business Marketing Statistics Small Business Technology Statistics Small Business Challenges Statistics General Small Business Statistics Most businesses are small — 99.9% of American businesses. (SBA, 2023) Small businesses pay 39.4% of the private sector payroll. (SBA, 2023) There are 33 million small businesses in the United States. (SBA, 2023) From 1995 to 2021, small businesses created 17.3 million net new jobs, accounting for 62.7% of net jobs created since 1995. (SBA, 2023) Business owners primarily go into business because they are “ready to be their own boss” (28%) and overall dissatisfaction with corporate America (23%). (Guidant Financial, 2023) Small businesses generate 32.6% of known export value. (SBA, 2023) Small businesses employ 61.7 million Americans, which equals...

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I tried writing a blog post with ChatGPT, so you don’t have to.

Artificial Intelligence

October 3, 2023/by admin

I tried writing a blog post with ChatGPT, so you don't have to. If you‘re a marketer who does a lot of writing, you’ve probably heard about writers, bloggers, and other creators using tools like ChatGPT to streamline the writing process. However, if you‘re a skeptical writer like me, you’re probably a little wary of using AI to craft your content. You might think: “Can this tool write well? Will it capture the correct voice and tone I want? Is it accurate? How can I use it?” Fortunately, you don‘t need to wonder anymore. I tried using ChatGPT to write a blog post, and I will share my experience and let you know if it’s worth trying out. Fun fact: This is my first time using ChatGPT in this way, too, so we're learning together! Using ChatGPT to Generate Ideas Using ChatGPT to Generate a Blog Outline Using ChatGPT to Write a Blog Post Final Thoughts Using ChatGPT to Generate Ideas Every blog post starts with an idea, so why not see if ChatGPT can generate a few for inspiration? After logging into the free version of ChatGPT, I was taken to the main chat page. After typing my request into the chat (“Give me ideas for a blog post about cats”), ChatGPT generated 15 blog ideas and headlines. The first five are below. Not bad, but let‘s take things a step further. Here’s ChatGPT's response to my second request, “Give me ideas for a blog...

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The Ultimate Guide to On-Page SEO in 2023

On-page SEO

September 30, 2023/by admin

The Ultimate Guide to On-Page SEO in 2023 On-page SEO has the power to bring countless new visitors — and customers — right to your website. Additionally, on-page SEO is also completely up to you: You get to establish what the topic and/or goal of each page will be. You get to decide on the target audience for that page. And you get to choose the target keywords and phrases you want to focus on. This can be intimidating and empowering at the same time. If you're unsure how to get started, we've built this on-page SEO checklist to help guide you. Jump To: What is On-Page SEO? Why On-Page SEO is Important On-Page SEO Elements On-Page SEO Checklist How to Manage On-Page SEO at Scale Google's algorithm ranks your website on three main factors: on-page SEO, off-page SEO, and technical SEO: On-page SEO refers to the page elements that enable search engines to crawl and index a page. Off-page SEO refers to social sharing, external linking, and more. Technical SEO refers to all the SEO elements not included in on-page and off-page practices, such as structured data, site speed, and mobile readiness — the more technical parts of SEO. Note: This SEO "trilogy" isn't always divided into three clean sections; some of these SEO elements will overlap. You'll see how and why throughout this piece. Why is on-page SEO important? On-page...

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Creating a Culture of Inclusion: Revolutionizing Professional Standards

Breaking the Blueprint

September 29, 2023/by admin

Creating a Culture of Inclusion: Revolutionizing Professional Standards Welcome to Breaking the Blueprint — a blog series that dives into the unique business challenges and opportunities of underrepresented business owners and entrepreneurs. Learn how they’ve grown or scaled their businesses, explored entrepreneurial ventures within their companies, or created side hustles, and how their stories can inspire and inform your own success. In today's rapidly changing corporate landscape, the concept of “professionalism” is undergoing a transformative shift, one that may completely radicalize the working world for better. For years, traditional professionalism standards have shaped how individuals present themselves and navigate the workplace. However, these standards have been criticized for their lack of inclusivity, sustaining inequality and limiting opportunities for historically underrepresented groups, especially Black and Brown individuals. This article explores the historical context behind these constructed principles, the reasons they exist, and ways to empower BIPOC/POC professionals in their respective journeys towards creating more inclusive and equitable workplaces. Table of Contents: Unveiling the Origins of Traditional Professionalism Standards Embracing DEI&B: Catalysts for a Progressive Workplace Rethinking Traditional Measures of “Professionalism” Forging a Brighter Path: A Future of Empowering, Inclusive, and Diverse Professionalism Unveiling the Origins of Traditional Professionalism Standards In the corporate landscape of America, the concept of “professionalism” has long been ingrained in the fabric of the working world. But to understand its current limitations and exclusionary nature in the present, we must look to...

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Retention, Referral, and Revenue: How to Create an Effective SaaS Marketing Plan

SaaS

September 27, 2023/by admin

Retention, Referral, and Revenue: How to Create an Effective SaaS Marketing Plan Marketing plans provide a framework to funnel customers from awareness to decision to purchase. When it comes to software-as-a-service (SaaS) offerings, these plans must account for the recurring nature of SaaS solutions. There's a special focus on retention and referral over purchase and loyalty. Here’s what you need to know about SaaS marketing plans, what sets them apart from traditional frameworks, and how your company can create a plan that drives revenue. Table of Contents What is a SaaS marketing plan? What Makes SaaS Marketing Different Why SaaS Marketing Plans Matter How to Create a SaaS Marketing Plan The Four Core Tenets of a SaaS Marketing Plan SaaS Marketing Plan Best Practices What Makes SaaS Marketing Different SaaS marketing is different because you’re selling an ongoing, subscription-based service. Unlike a traditional product with a single purchase point, customers pay for SaaS solutions monthly or yearly. As a result, traditional and SaaS marketing have differing aims. A traditional marketing plan aims to convert prospects into buyers who purchase product(s) in a single transaction. If these customers are happy with the products, they may return for additional transactions. SaaS marketing plans aim to turn interested parties into subscribers willing to sign on for month-to-month or yearly plans. You'll want buyers to renew these plans when they come to term and refer other customers to your service. Put simply,...

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25 of the Best WordPress Newspaper Themes for 2023

wordpress themes

September 27, 2023/by admin

25 of the Best WordPress Newspaper Themes for 2023 Whether you’re a blogger, editorial writer, journalist, or any other type of writer, there are a number of different WordPress themes that allow you to share your content with the visitors on your website. Newspaper WordPress themes — despite their name — work for all types of writing. No matter your content type, the layout you’re looking for, or the design you envision for your website, there are hundreds of newspaper themes to choose from. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of our 25 favorite newspaper themes for 2023 to help you find one that meets your needs. Each of the following themes contains a description and a few key takeaways to help you efficiently determine which option or options might work for your own website. If you don’t see a theme listed below of interest, you can always check out the WordPress theme library for more options. 1. JNews Image Source JNews offers a complete solution for creating news, magazine, and other publishing websites on WordPress. It comes with many essential features for publishers, including push notifications, truncated content for mobile, pay-to-submit functionality, and lots more. JNews is also built for performance and customization, meaning you can build a unique website for your business that keeps SEO and page speed considerations top of mind. What we like: JNews offers revenue-generating functionality like ad placements and restricted content, it has built-in systems for podcasters, video-makers, and more,...

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